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 North Cyprus, is tucked into the far south-eastern corner of the Mediterranean,
only 44 miles from Turkey, 64 miles from Syria, and 211 miles from Egypt, it lies on the frontier between Europe and Asia,
between Christianity and Islam.
It is a beautiful country, blessed with a glorious climate, where the pine-clad mountains sweep down to the olive groves and picturesque
coastline. Rainfall is usually between December and February, and the sea temperature is above 20°C for most of the year.
But it has more to offer than a perfect setting for a peaceful holiday, According to mythology, it is the island of Aphrodite,
the goddess of love and one can easily understand why holidaymakers fall in love with the island and want to live here.
 Cyprus is a nature lovers dream. Springtime is a haven for wild flowers and
the air permeates the scent of the orange and lemon blossom. The vivid colours that carpet the island are reminscent of an impressionist’s
canvas. And yet paradoxically, because of its strategic location at the crossroads to both the Middle East and Far East,
it has become a land of conquerors throughout history. The Ottomans were the last conquerors of the island and ruled it between 1571
and 1878.
Cyprus has been at the centre of the civilized world for most of her history and her soil bears the traces of every power down the ages
and the land is strewn with the relics of the great Mediterranean civilisations. Sightseers can explore the Bronze Age sites,
the spectacular ruins of classical Salamis and the fairy tale Crusader castles in the Mountains: Greek temples, Roman theatres,
Byzantine painted churches, flamboyant Gothic cathedrals and abbeys, Venetian fortifications, Ottoman mosques – North Cyprus has them all!
Major Towns and Tourism
Lefkosa (Nicosia) named after the ruler Lefkos, is the capital of North Cyprus and the main business centre.
The city is surrounded by a massive wall, with eleven bastions that survive from an invasion in the 15th century by the Venetians.
The many palaces, churches of great age and elegance stand cheek by jowl with unlovely modern structures and there is a general sense
that time has stood still. Along with the hustle and bustle of the indoor market makes this city a true sightseers dream.
Girne (Kyrenia)
This rapidly growing harbour town is dominated by a Byzantine castle built as a defence against the Arab raids in the 7th and
succeeding centuries. The harbour area, which is a pretty horseshoe-shaped harbour with majestic mountains behind forming a picturesque
backdrop, is the chief magnet for visitors. The Venetian atmosphere is perfect for a stroll a drink or a romantic meal at any one of the
many cafés, restaurants and bars. Girne is also home to many museums with information easily available from one of the many
tourist offices that are dotted around the town.
Gazi magusa (Famagusta)
The turkish name for Famagusta means ‘unconquered Magusa’.
Approaching Gazimagusa from the capital, the road passes stretches of unexceptional suburbs and the main bus station to reach a
roundabout embellished with a startling bronze status showing Ataturk with figures crawling all over his body.
Here the visitor gets his first sight of the city walls and the huge Land Gate which was the main entrance to the town in the middle ages.
The city is a thriving tourist area with many ‘starred’ hotels.
They offer private WC, bath or shower rooms and are graded along the same lines as other tourist authorities throughout Europe.
The North Cyprus tourist board in London has a list of the main hotels on the island,
as do the tourist offices at Ercan/Gecitkale airports (open in conjunction with flight arrivals),Lefkosa, Girne and Gazimagusa.
However, these offices do not handle reservations.
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